Astronaut visits Port St. Lucie fifth-graders

Retired astronaut Dr. Bruce Melnick spoke to fifth-grade students at Windmill Point Elementary in Port St. Lucie on Wednesday. Melnick visited the school after receiving hand-written letters from 44 students in Jennifer Bishop's classes.

Retired astronaut Dr. Bruce Melnick spoke to fifth-grade students at Windmill Point Elementary in Port St. Lucie on Wednesday. Melnick visited the school after receiving hand-written letters from 44 students in Jennifer Bishop's classes.

Dominick Loring, 11 (center), records video as retired astronaut Dr. Bruce Melnick speaks to fifth-grade students at Windmill Point Elementary in Port St. Lucie Wednesday. Melnick visited the school after receiving hand-written letters from 44 students in Jennifer Bishop's classes.

Retired astronaut Dr. Bruce Melnick spoke to fifth-grade students at Windmill Point Elementary in Port St. Lucie on Wednesday. Melnick visited the school after receiving hand-written letters from 44 students in Jennifer Bishop's classes.

Retired astronaut Dr. Bruce Melnick spoke to fifth-grade students at Windmill Point Elementary in Port St. Lucie on Wednesday. Melnick visited the school after receiving hand-written letters from 44 students in Jennifer Bishop's classes.

Retired astronaut Dr. Bruce Melnick spoke to fifth-grade students at Windmill Point Elementary in Port St. Lucie on Wednesday. Melnick visited the school after receiving hand-written letters from 44 students in Jennifer Bishop's classes.

Retired astronaut Dr. Bruce Melnick spoke to fifth-grade students at Windmill Point Elementary in Port St. Lucie on Wednesday. Melnick visited the school after receiving hand-written letters from 44 students in Jennifer Bishop's classes.

Retired astronaut Dr. Bruce Melnick spoke to fifth-grade students at Windmill Point Elementary in Port St. Lucie on Wednesday. Melnick visited the school after receiving hand-written letters from 44 students in Jennifer Bishop's classes.

Retired astronaut Dr. Bruce Melnick spoke to fifth-grade students at Windmill Point Elementary in Port St. Lucie on Wednesday. Melnick visited the school after receiving hand-written letters from 44 students in Jennifer Bishop's classes.

CHRISTOPHER ARNOLD/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Retired astronaut Dr. Bruce Melnick answers questions about the space shuttle while speaking to fifth-grade students at Windmill Point Elementary in Port St. Lucie on Wednesday. "These kids are exactly the same age I was when Alan Shepard flew," Melnick said. "Knowing that these kids all have their future ahead of them, and they can go do whatever they want, it's inspiring. These could be the first kids on Mars." cq: Bruce Melnick; Alan Shepard

Retired astronaut Dr. Bruce Melnick spoke to fifth-grade students at Windmill Point Elementary in Port St. Lucie on Wednesday. Melnick visited the school after receiving hand-written letters from 44 students in Jennifer Bishop's classes.

Retired astronaut Dr. Bruce Melnick spoke to fifth-grade students at Windmill Point Elementary in Port St. Lucie on Wednesday. Melnick visited the school after receiving hand-written letters from 44 students in Jennifer Bishop's classes.